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Saqqara/ Sakkara
pyramids
Sakkara
(Saqqara)
is one of the most extensive archaeological
sites in Egypt! It was the cemetery for
Memphis, the capital of Ancient Egypt, yet
it is still one of the virgin archaeological
sites, despite the fact that so much has
already been found here!
The site is dominated by the Step Pyramid of
King Zoser, which goes back to 2700 BC. It
is one of the oldest stone structures in the
world!
Sakkara is also the site of many tombs from
the 1st and 2nd Dynasties. Most are made out
of mud bricks, but some tombs are made of
limestone, decorated with daily life scenes.
When you are at Sakkara, you will notice
that it is divided into:
 -
Southern
Sakkara, which is dominated by the step
Pyramid.
-Northern Sakkara, which is dominated by the
Pyramid of King Titi, and Mastaba tombs of
the old kingdom.
When
conducting a visit to Sakkara don’t miss the
following sites:
- The
Step Pyramid
of King
Zoser, and it surrounding complex:
- The
Pyramid of King Titi
- The
tomb of Mereruka and the tomb of Kagimni
- The
Mastaba tomb of Ti, and the tomb of
Ptah-Hotep
The step pyramid
Please
Note: The Pyramid has been closed to
visitors for a long time, as it is deemed
not safe to enter it!
It was built for King Zoser, one of the
greatest Kings of the third dynasty
(2721-2780 BC). Originally meant as a tomb,
this Pyramid was designed and built by his
great architect Imhotep. The Pyramid is
built as a step Pyramid, 60m high, and
consisting of 6 steps; each one built on top
of each other and smaller than the one
below.
Today it
is considered as one of the oldest stone
structures built by man, and the first time
the Ancient Egyptians would attempt to use
limestone. Zoser’s Pyramid is entirely built
of limestone, small bricks of limestone, and
not of the best quality, and yet it has
remained for more than 4700 years!
The
Pyramid’s four sides are very nearly aligned
to the four cardinal points. On the northern
side is the original entrance of the
Pyramid.
On the
north-western side you will notice a little
room that is built with a gradient angle,
similar to the Pyramid itself. In there was
found a beautiful statue of King Zoser made
of limestone, it was moved to the Egyptian
museum in Cairo and replaced by a replica
The
northern entrance is not used anymore, as it
is very dangerous! Any people, who are
allowed into the Pyramid, use another
entrance that was made in the 26th Dynasty,
on the southern side of the Pyramid. I have
frequently been admitted, into the Pyramid,
with TV crews that I have led around Sakkara
but I needed special permission to do this.
When you
go underneath the Pyramid, there is strange
feeling that haunts you, especially when you
remember that you are exploring 4,700 years
of time. Down there it is a maze of little
corridors and tunnels! Found in some of
these tunnels more than 30, 000 jars, which
were made out of several types of stone,
alabaster, marble, diorite and slate.
To the southern side of the Pyramid, you
will find a burial shaft, almost 28 meter
deep, which is believed to be a symbolic
tomb for the King, as Kings of the first
three Dynasties used to build two tombs for
themselves; one a real tomb and the other, a
cenotaph.
The Pyramid is surrounded by a rectangular
enclosure wall that measure 277m by 544m,
mostly ruined today, but it was originally
10m high. You can see parts of it today.
In the southeastern part of the wall you
will find the entrance to the complex, and
most of what you are going to see, when you
get through this door, is recently restored!
You will notice at the end of the little
hall that the door leads you to; there is an
imitation of two doors, swung open. The
entrance leads you to a colonnade that has
40 columns. Each column is attached to the
wall behind, the style is called engaged
columns, and they were built to ensure that
they would be able to endure the heavy
weight of the ceiling.
You will notice that in-between the columns
a large numbers of little rooms were
created; they once contained statues
representing King Zoser as ruler of Upper
and Lower Egypt. The long hypostyle hall
leads to an open courtyard, which was used
by the King, performing the rituals of the
jubilee feast, called the Hep-Sed festival.
One of the rituals performed by the Kings of
Ancient Egypt to ensure that they are able
to rule the country for the next 30 years.
To the
right of this open courtyard, Imhotep built
a Temple known as the Hep-Sed Temple, so
that the King would be able to practice the
ritual in the after life.
Behind the Temple, and further north, you
will notice two buildings behind each other;
they are called the northern and southern
houses, where the King is supposed to host
the dignitaries who have come to attend the
King’s ritual in the Temple, and his
recognition as a King of Upper and Lower
Egypt.
Next to
the Step Pyramid complex, on the southern
side, you will see the ruined Pyramid of
King Unas, which dates back to the end of
the 5th Dynasty. It was the first Pyramid
that had inscriptions decorating the walls
of the burial chamber! There are more than
700 incantations, which are supposed to help
the dead King throughout the afterlife, and
they are known as the Pyramid texts.
Unfortunately the Pyramid has been closed
for more than 6 years now
The
Tomb of Mereruka:
This is
the largest tomb in Sakkara! It consists of
32 rooms and was built for Mereruka and his
family. Discovered in 1893, it is located
20m to the north of the Pyramid of King Titi.
Dating
back to the time of the 6th Dynasty (2240
BC), the tomb is divided into sections where
Mereruka and his wife and son are buried.
The walls of the tomb are decorated with
marvellous scenes, illustrating the daily
life in Ancient Egypt.
It is
also filled with many details of Mereruka,
with his family and servants. |
